The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board backed away last week from a proposal that many parents had interpreted as a plan to cut field hockey from local middle schools.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools superintendent's proposed budget for 2011-2012 included $40,000 in cuts for middle school athletics and $60,000 in reductions for the high school athletics programs.

Parents were prepared to pounce upon statements in the budget proposal that said, "cutting the field hockey program at the middle [school] level..." and "At the high school level, there is one non-sanctioned sport that is played in CHCCS and that is field hockey. One of the cuts will be for transportation for field hockey ..."

Seven parents were signed up at Thursday night's school board meeting to speak about the proposals. Many more were in the audience.

But, before the public hearing on the budget began, board member Jamezetta Bedford told the assembled crowd that the board would not be making any cuts to the middle-school field hockey program and that the board would not target any particular sport in any potential budget cuts.

Only two of the seven planned speakers went on to make remarks. One woman used her allotted time to say "thank you," and another woman used her time to make her argument against the cuts anyway.

In the days leading up to Thursday's meeting, school athletics directors and other administrators within the CHCCS system were sent a wave of protests from parents, players and alumnae of the local field hockey teams, including past members of state champions from Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill.

Michelle Kasold, 23, an all-American for East Chapel Hill's state champions and then for Wake Forest University, took time to email while working with the U.S. National Team that is trying to make the 2012 Olympics.

"I have watched hockey grow tremendously in the Chapel Hill area, and I know the opportunities for future players is only expanding as well," she wrote. "I know with its continued expansion, there will be future stars who will achieve far greater accomplishments than myself. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this community, which no doubt has supported me over the years of my journey and still does to this day. Middle school is one of the most important times in development, athletically and in life. The hockey program in middle school without a doubt has played a huge role in shaping who I am today -- on and off the field."

Kasold called the announcement that the middle school programs would survive "great news."

The CHCCS programs still face $100,000 in cuts for athletics. Reduced transportation for away games and in pay for assistant coaches are the most likely targets for what the proposed budget termed "a deep cut.'

Woods Charter to host summer hoops camps

Coach John Berry, one of the most active area basketball coaches in the off-season, will host Youth Hoops Summer Basketball Camps at Woods Charter School in southern Chapel Hill, he announced last week. Separate week-long sessions will be held between June 27 and July 29.

Tuition is $175 per player. For more information, contact jberry@youthhoops.com or see www.YouthHoops.com.

Wildcats win fifth straight

East Chapel Hill boys lacrosse picked up two more wins last week, 16-5 over Cedar Ridge and 17-8 over Carrboro.

Senior Ryan Lucey led the way against Cedar Ridge (3-2) with seven goals, while Leo Moran had three and Jackson Boyer had two goals and two assists. Chandler Zirkle had two assists,

Steven Augustine returned to the lineup full time and added great firepower, with five goals and two assists for the 'Cats (6-1) against Carrboro (2-4). He also dominated the face offs and ground balls. Lucey had three goals and three assists, and Jackson Boyer added three goals and two assists. Zirkle had three goals and one assist.

Levi Brown, who saved 13 shots by Cedar Ridge, had 15 saves before leaving the Carrboro game with a ECH leading 17-5 in the fourth quarter of its fifth straight win.

NCHSAA calls for support

Concerned over two bills pending in the N.C. General Assembly, NCHSAA Commissioner Davis Whitfield took the unusual step last week of directly emailing association member schools for help.

N.C. House Bill 253 would allow home-schooled students to participate in high school athletics at the school to which they would be assigned if registered in their local school district.

Senate Bill 361 is broader. It would allow students at any private school, charter school or home school, that does not have an interscholastic athletics program in a given sport to play in that sport at the "base public high school." In addition, if that public school lacked a certain sports program, a student could participate in that sport at the high school closest to the student's school that had the desired program.

"You must be aware of these bills," Whitfield wrote. "We are asking you, along with other members of your administration, members of your athletic staff, supporters of your school or others in your community (boosters, business leaders, parents, friends of the program, etc.) to contact your representatives or senators in Raleigh to voice your opposition."

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